Newsletter
April 2002
Reports
Mankinholes 23 - 27 December (All Grades)
Christmas eventFun and fellowship, peace and plenty, walks and worship – that was Christmas at this cosy little hostel just below the Pennine Way. As we had sole use it was like a home from home.
We had to add wet, wild and very windy for the first days walking, as we battled against gales and horizontal rain on the Pennine Way. Those who went on the longer walk succumbed to the temptation of a brief respite in the White Horse Inn (that hot bowl of soup was pure heaven, not to mention a loo stop in comfort!) So, well fortified, we then faced the elements, to return via moorland and canal path just as dusk fell (the drying room was full that night).
Mulled wine and mince pies (or tea) tided us over until suppertime.
Christmas Day dawned clear and bright, and after most of us visited the nearest church thereby virtually doubling the congregation, we all derove to a carpark near Hardcastle Crags for a beautiful woodland walk and up on to sunny moorland above – at last the camera sprang into action.
Back at the hostel the cooking team, ably led by Nicky got down to the preparation of the Christmas dinner, whilst a few of us entertained (or annoyed) them with our rendering of any or all the Christmas carols we could find in the songbook.
Right on time we all sat down to a right royal feast, all that we could possibly ask of a Christmas dinner – turkey (or vege option) vegetables, stuffing, roast potatoes - everything – we even had candles on the table, floral decorations and crackers and of course Christmas pudding.
When all was cleared and the washing up team had done their stint, we gathered in front of the fire in the common room where a large Christmas tree stood in the corner. We have all been asked to bring a small wrapped present, and then we each fished one out as it went around.
The evening finished with some favourite choruses and carols, and readings or thoughts on the meaning of Christmas. It was a happy day with nothing to mar the peace and harmony I felt there.
Boxing Day was again blessed with blue skies and sunshine, and we made the most of it – no bogs, just crisp frosty paths and lovely views from the high ground. As we came back past Stoodley Pike some whent up to the top of the plinth below the needle even better views from that vantage point, and we even got home in daylight.
Next morning we virtually springcleaned the hostel to leave spotless as we found it any food left over being put on the table to share – all had to go.
Then the goodbyes with some of us going across to the New Year Event at Keswick, but I had to go home this time, regretfully. So thank yo to Nicky and Duncan for a wonderful Christmas and for all the hard work and incredible organising you had to do to make this such a success – it all went wonderfully smoothly an dthe choice of hostel could not have been better o one of the homelist and most comfortable I have been in lately. This is a Christmas I shan’t forget.
Doreen Peskett
ChichesterDerwentwater 27 December - 1 January (All Grades)
New Year eventA warm welcome awaited us at Ilam Hall YHA, set in the beautiful New Year’s Event
As usual, there were 70+ people on this event and also it was nice to see some newcomers. Many walks on offer: easy, easy-moderate, moderate, moderate-hard and hard - what more could you ask for!
We arrived in rain but following this the weather was good and clear with a slight smattering of snow and ice. No tobogganing like last year! I usually seem to manage to pick the day when the weather closes in and this happened on Skiddaw with sleeting snow hitting one’s face.
Not too much of a fight in the members kitchen accommodating two fridges (sad person to mention this!) so things didn’t generally fall out onto the floor, but with the added problem of trying to remember which fridge food had been left in (I’d love to see George’s article on this matter again - do people remember it?)
It was more dramatic being in the hills around Keswick, as opposed to last year’s pretty scenery at Troutbeck, and Ashness Bridge (picture postcard) was quite close to the hostel.
Alan, who may have thought he had become like Elijah and was being taken away, never to return. Fortunately, or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, it was only the wind which blew him forward 10 feet. The hard walkers as a result, had to abandon their walk from Base Brown - anything to get out of it!
Sunday night’s worship led through ably by Melanie and Lindsey, prayers led by Mark.
New Year’s eve entertainment : Robin who recounted his own poems, Evelyn reciting from Joyce Grenfield’s writings, Tina who read some poems and Roger P with his impersonations of Peter Cook. Judy had a go at controlling the masses with a quiz (sorry if I’ve missed anybody out here!)
I suppose I should mention some of the wonderful Cumbrian names which were included in some of the walks: Blencathra, Ullock Pike, Allen Crags, Glaramara, Rosthwaite, Ullscarf, Watendlath, Stonethwaite, Eagle Crag, Blease Fell, Catbells, Maiden Moor, and Walla Crag to mention just a few.
Finally, many thanks to Phil Nalpanis and Jane Wood, the walk leaders, all the Youth Hostel team, and to all who made the event such a success.
Daphne Stockwell
CobhamKeswick 27 December - 2 January (All Grades)
New Year event - Convention CentreThe Leaders View
When you book for an event, do you ever wonder what happens between then and the event? For a change, and due to my not finding a scribe, here is life on the other side of the booking form.
When does a New Year event start? For me it started early in the year 2000, when the club confirmed the reservation for the 2001 event. Then calm until the summer of 2001 when I had to send details in for the programme. The programme itself appeared in September, and that’s when life started to get busy. The day after the programme appeared I received the first bookings, from those keen to reserve their places. From then until the event started there was a steady stream of bookings and enquiries. As the bookings arrived I had to write and send replies, forward cheques to the treasurer, and organise a list of who is coming when, how much they have paid, and if they need lifts etc. At least spreadsheets make this easier than when I first started organising events. I also had to liaise with Val Fane (in charge of the group catering) to organise duty lists. Of course people change their plans during this time, so everything needs altering several times. The last (well almost the last) bookings happen on Christmas Eve!
After that it is a relief to be at the event, though even here things change, as some people cancel or change plans due to illness or domestic problems.
The weather is splendid, and people are happy to go out walking every day. So is the leader, which means some of the on the spot planning gets done hurriedly. The walks vary from short walks for some of the younger children, to full mountain days with people squeezing every drop of daylight out of the short winter days. The evenings are mostly spent socialising or planning the next day’s walks, while on the Sunday we share worship with the group at Derwentwater. The New Year is seen in by games, quizzes, and a short time of worship. In all of this the leader forgets to appoint a report writer, and hence this report.
Despite the above, I do enjoy it and would like to say thanks to all who contribute to the event i.e. everyone who comes.
Due to the Convention Centre being refurbished there will be no Keswick event this New Year, but New Year 2003-4 is already in the planning stage! A family friendly hostel-based event should be on offer for this New Year though so watch the programme.
Bob FloydNew Years Eve Family Walk – winter walking with children
Barf? I’m sure we can! Carn’t we….?
The steep ascent was slippery with snow. The older children (5 and 6) raced ahead, while the two three year olds slipped about more in wellies. Up and up through the forest we went; two CRC families and five children (one carried). A rocky icy outcrop stopped us: easy enough to hand the children up but adults had to climb up the waterfall. Over fallen trees to another icy rock and narrow path – were we really coming down here later? Finally out of the trees; sheet ice caused a boggy detour before we could stop and eat in the biting wind. As some started crying we hastened to the top. Some refused to go back "down there"! so we headed up onto Lord’s Seat. The children found that icicles melt into gloves: more crying with cold, but we cajoled them to the top. After a snack stop all cheered up and four children raced in front. We snaked down the forest to Whinlatter: somehow the children found the energy for the play equipment ; the dads ran back for the cars. Cold in the growing gloom we started down the icy road but were soon rescued.
1640 feet ascended and 3 ½ miles.
Judith James
FarehamJudith wondered if an item about the things that the club children have done on club events might encourage other parents, on the other hand she realises that this report might frighten everyone off! It was an epic at the time but the children coped amazingly well and in the course of the Keswick event did five days of walking and bagged five Wainwrights.
Oxford 29 December - 1 January (Easy Moderate)
New Year event - Convention CentreNew Year amid the dreaming spires
It is hard to believe as I sit in the gloom of January day in Yorkshire, the incredible blue skies of those first few days of 2002. We were so fortunate with the cold crisp clear days which are so great for walking. There were plenty of walks to chose from on all three days and I don’t think anyone could have been disappointed. It was my first experience of walking in the Chilterns and the mellow beauty of the hills wa quite spectacular, somehow the light was just right .. a photographers dream. Wlaking around Oxford on our guided tour was another highlight, it certainly is a fascinating city. My only disappointment was not bumping into Inspector Morse.
Apart from the brillant walking, it was good to meet new friends, The hostel was really good, it’s the only YH where I have had ensuite facilities and a TV in my bedroom. The New Years meal was excellent, the fun and game after were mind stretching for some of us, and the time of worship around midnight was a lovely way to end one year and begin the next.
Thank you for everyone who worked so hard to make the event a success.
Helen Wilson
Edale 18 - 20 January (Moderate)
If, like myself until 5-6 years ago, you are under the impression that all there is at Edale is bogs, can I encourage you to think again, or else you will miss out on some lovely scenery. In fact if one skirts wound the edge of its flat top even Kinder Scout itself is quite easy walking. Edale is a beautiful place, and so some of my informed friends tell me, some of its hills are over 2000 ft as reasonably challenging climb if walked as part of a circuit.
Around 10 of us were resident in Edale for this weekend and were joined by another 6 day walkers. Either the new booking system is doomed to failure or it is having teething problems as they had cooked nine evening meals that no-one had ordered and were quite ready to cook 9 breakfasts too. At least we were able to tell them no one had ordered breakfast thus avoiding the previous evenings wastage.
Saturdays walk on Kinder Scout was a good one and much to the delight of some of us we even managed two decent refreshment stops. Was it windy up on Kinder Scout, well even Charlie Brown would be able to get one of his ill fated kites off the ground up there!
Sunday morning worship took place in a delightful little Anglican chapel in Edale itself. The vicar and his flock seem genuinely pleased to see us. A good choice of hymns and a sermon suggesting that it can sometimes be easier to be active all the time rather than take some time out for contemplation. I think he was implying that a balance was needed.
Thanks Geoff for yet another good weekend that finished with a walk on Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of the Ladybower Reservoir.
Peter Whale
RugbyRidgeway 25 - 27 January (Easy - Moderate)
The Ridgeway is a hostel in the South of Oxfordshire, near the border
with Berkshire. The buildings were constructed using materials from a
rather ancient barn and look rather like riding stables. Here we came on a windy weekend of January.On Saturday morning, we set out westwards alond the Ridgeway in the wind and rain. Once beyond the boundary of the Shire, the conditions worsened, because there was very little cover. The rain stung like hail, and damp crept under our waterproofs. Along the way, others joined our company as we trod the ancient path led by our trusty ranger. For lunch, some of us ate sandwiches in a church porch while others went to a pub. The wind dropped during the afternoon, and our clothes dried a little.
That night we ate at The Prancing Pony, Letcombe Regis and three of our number delighted everyone by joining in a Karaoke. On Sunday we all sang at Wantage Baptist church, who offered us a kind welcome and some tea and biscuits.
On Sunday we drove west towards Swindon and walked up to the Uffington White Horse. This is a very stylised hill painting made by removing turf from the hill to expose the chalky soil. Some Iron Age artists had done this a few milllenia ago. They were resting in the barrow, which was an ancient and very interesting burial mound. Back down the hill, we said our goodbyes and gave our thanks to John for leading the weekend.
Best wishes to John and Melanie for their wedding.
Paul Moore
Patterdale 25 - 27 January (Hard)
‘Enjoyment is temporary, achievement is permanent’
Perhaps an inability by most people to enjoy bad weather accounts for the low turnout on this weekend. I think the four who did come still enjoyed themselves, and we certainly achieved!
Saturday’s achievements included reaching the summits of St Sunday Crag and Dollywagon Pike, despite barely being able to stand in the wind, in getting back to the hostel before the rain started, and having sufficient time to drink a record amount of tea before dinner. Sunday was more enjoyable, as we ascended Skiddaw by the tourist track, with much lighter wind, good views, and again we beat the rain back to Keswick. There was still an achievement – one member finally reached the summit 25 years after his first failed attempt. We then achieved a record occupancy time in Rembrant’s teashop. Thanks Roger for a good weekend
Andy Rook
OkehamptonRavenstor 8 - 10 February (Moderate)
Flexibility was one of our leader’s attributes this weekend, as he found alternative routes to avoid local flooding. There we were, expecting a nice easy stroll down Millers Dale, when we found ourselves high on an adventurous path hugging the steep hillsides, just to avoid a puddle!! Sunshine enhanced the impressive views. Highlights of the afternoon were meeting the most photogenic group of highland cattle with two tiny calves, and the teashop – in a hundred year old Wrinkly Tin!
Sunshine streamed through the window at breakfast time, and what a splendid view to have from a dining room window. Two of us made the most of the sunshine walking while the rest of the group attended Tideswell Church, the Cathedral of the Peaks. The afternoon walk took us into Chee Dale and up Wormhill, enjoying snowdrops in the woods.
We were tempted into the grounds of Warmhill by the beautiful carpets of snowdrops and by local knowledge that it was the way through to the church. We had to be escorted through a maze of courtyards by one of the kindly occupants. In Peter Dale a river had developed in the ‘dry’ dale, and a lake as well, so flood avoidance kept us alert in the now pouring rain. Sensibly we retreated from the now worsening conditions in Monks Dale.
Thanks to Bob and Janet for a great weekend.
Val Breeze
CroydonPS an eventful weekend extension found us watching waterfalls rising up from Stanage Edge, being backlit by the sun like a sparkling fireworks, and having tea whilst the local chimney sweep did the chimney.
Kemsing 15 - 17 February (Easy - Moderate)
Nine CRC members gathered at the hostel on the Friday evening.
On Saturday morning we went to Orpington for a 10 mile linear walk to Spring Park, where we were joined by twenty other walkers, including the leader Ralph. It was a nice sunny day, especially for February! We went through fields, wood, a golf course and playing fields, as well as villages and a country park. In the evening, we had a thought-provoking bible study on prayer. This was followed by a quiz on youth hostels, where we were given the answers first!
On Sunday morning, we planned to do a short walk before the service in Sevenoaks. However, one member’s car wouldn’t start, and so we settled for an afternoon walk. This was a circular walk starting from a village called Plaxton. We saw many oast houses and a number of orchards, and enjoyed views of the North Downs. We reminisced on adverts on the 70’s, including Cadburys Fruit and Nut, this caused some hilarity.
All appreciated the weekend led by Hilary. I should mention the warden of the hostel, who was very helpful and friendly.
Chris Moss
BedfordCairn Gorm 9 - 16 February (winter mountaineering)
9 of us spent a wonderful week in two comfortable chalets near Aviemore.
We started with a fairly quiet day on the Sunday with an afternoon walk round Loch an Eilen having worshipped in the morning at the nearby church at Kincraig, beautifully situated on the shores of Loch Insh, where we received a very warm welcome.
Monday was our first day with our excellent two guides John and Richard, and was spent on navigation tuition and exercises near Glenmore Lodge, so avoiding the high winds striking the summits.
The next 4 days found us up in the snow learning and using a variety of skills. For many of us it was the first time with ice axes and crampons, but there was also much to learn in assessing the weather, the state of snow, and avalanche risk. The black art of ice axe arresting was practiced with varying degrees of success, and snow holes and ice bollards were duly dug. Having been encouraged to take fairly capacious rucksacks our guides duly insisted on us taking as little as possible with us, and then promptly filled our empty spaces with helmets, ropes, shovels, and other paraphernalia.
We soon found that additional skills were needed, as our guides did not believe in sitting down and stopping in one place for longer than necessary. ‘Multi-tasking’ proved essential - eating and drinking had to be indulged in at the same time as crampons were being fitted or removed.
Sewing skills and in one case more extreme measures (gaffer tape and at least three pairs of hands!) had to be applied in the evenings to repair the crampon tears in trousers.
Catering was excellent and splendid meals were rustled up in the evenings although the passion of some of the party for golden syrup led to some rather unpleasant excesses – tea cakes were definitely not designed to accommodate sliced banana, syrup and apple crumble and custard! Any future CRC Scottish expeditions may be in peril if the Scottish Porridge Police ever get wind of the introduction of strawberry bio-yoghurt to the morning porridge!
John and Kate Penrose
Brainteaser:
Anagrams of hills in the lake district1. Sky Chaats
2. These Grith
3. Reek Dip
4. Baelern Egg
5. Laid Ffire
6. Llob Few
7. Gram Lech
8. Safe Picklle
9. Wad Kids
10. Heart Blancs
11. Cad Say Grunts
12. Edger Tan
13. Peak Vary
14. Light Shie
15. Kings Cracler
16. Dash Dot Dip Gohh
17. Wish Worl
18. Rap Ill
19. Alarm Raga
20. Last ClebJanuary answer
I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu: kept people looking so hard for facts… and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalised. But the truth finally struck home to numbers of our readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there are some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help to find them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now, for there really are sixteen names of books in the Bible in this paragraph.
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